Eirik Bakke is urging Leeds team-mate Mark Viduka not to walk out of Elland Road in next month's transfer window.

With Leeds up for sale and just three weeks away from the threat of administration, Viduka is one of those players whose name is again being linked with a move away to ease the financial strain.

The Australia international is back in the headlines after rediscovering his form since the arrival of caretaker-manager Eddie Gray, whose system of playing one up front means Viduka (top left) is shouldering a great deal of responsibility.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is known to be interested in Viduka, and watched the 28-year-old in last Monday's 1-1 draw at Manchester City when he scored Leeds' only goal, although Louis Saha is looking favourite for a switch to Old Trafford.

Viduka is one of the players Leeds cannot afford to let go for despite a five-game unbeaten run, they remain one off the bottom and threatened by relegation going into today's clash at Wolves,

Chief executive Trevor Birch has made it clear many times that the club do not have to sell next month, yet when you have seen so many team-mates leave over the last 18 months it is more a case of expect the unexpected at Leeds.

Bakke, who on Friday returned to the side as a 63rd-minute sub for skipper Dominic Matteo in the goalless home draw with Aston Villa, after five months out following knee surgery, is hopeful Viduka will stay.

"Of course we hope Mark stays, but we are used to this speculation as to whether he is staying or going," said Bakke.

"Mark is an important player to us, but then we've had players go in the past and we've coped. I want him to stay and I've told him that many times. All the boys want him to stay and he wants to stay, but we will see what happens.

"But whoever goes or stays, we just have to get on with it. If Mark does go then we have options with Alan Smith up front.

"But he (Viduka) kept us in the Premiership last season and hopefully he can do that again this season.

"He has been playing well recently. He is a big lad who holds the ball well, and hopefully he can get a few more goals."

Bakke insists Viduka does not deserve the `lazy' tag often attached to the striker given the fact he can drift in and out of games, adding: "Mark always works hard.

"In training he works his socks off. People may get on his back because of his body language, but he always wants to do well and to win.

"But to stay in the Premier League we all have to put in a lot of effort. If we can climb that table then we will be alright.

"Relegation is not a talking point at all. We just want to climb that table. If we keep working like we have been doing then hopefully we will be OK."

With Matteo struggling with a thigh strain and David Batty suspended, Bakke may yet be asked to start, even though he concedes he is not match fit.

After returning ahead of schedule and with no reserve-team football under his belt prior to Friday's run-out, Bakke said: "Ideally, I would have waited a couple more weeks, but football is not ideal.

"It was a little bit of a surprise to be on the bench, but Eddie took me to one side and told me he wanted me on the bench.

"I've trained hard and the physios have done a great job. I am fit, but I need games. I will just have to build up my fitness in the first team. It's just a case of getting stronger from week to week.

"I'm ready to start and do a job for the team, but I could have done with a couple more matches to get into it. Hopefully my form will come later."